Barrera reports that city saved money on health insurance costs in past year

My Sou Tex.Com

Jun 06, 2014 | 157 views | 0 | 4 | |

BEEVILLE – The City of Beeville now has more than $200,000 in reserves with the Entrust self insurance program, according to Entrust representative Roland Barrera.

The insurance specialist outlined the history of the city’s association with Entrust during a May 27 City Council meeting and praised the efforts of city employees to hold down costs in the past year.

Barrera said that was a satisfactory amount of money to have in reserves at the end of the year. He also reminded the council that it is good to have a substantial reserve in the event of one or more city employees run up some serious medical expenses.

Much of that savings was realized by city employees taking advantage of Christus Spohn Health System services.

Minutes later during the Tuesday evening meeting, the council voted to provide $17,000 for this year’s Summer Recreation Program at the Beeville Boys and Girls Club.

City Manager Jack Hamlett reminded the council that it has provided funds for the program in the past and Finance Director Caron Vela confirmed that the money had been set aside in this year’s city budget.

Council members also voted to authorize the city to pay a $2,573 membership fee with the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association.

Hamlett told the council that Beeville has maintained a membership in that organization in the past and that membership fee will keep a list of hotels and motels in Beeville on the THLA list of facilities.

The money for the membership fee is to be taken from the city’s Hotel and Motel Occupancy Tax Fund.

Council members also heard reports from the Beeville Police Department and Municipal Court outlining activities during the past month.

Before adjourning, the council voted to appoint Sheila Foreman, an employee at the local H-E-B Food Store, to replace Martin Montez on the Planning Commission.